The first leg of the “TEKNOFEST Drone Championship” organized within the scope of TEKNOFEST, the world’s largest Aviation, Space and Technology Festival, was held at NEU Event Park on the Near East University campus. The champions received their cups with the participation of President Ersin Tatar.

This week, before TEKNOFEST TRNC, which will be held between May 1-4, the first torch of the TEKNOFEST fire was lit at Near East University. The first leg of the TEKNOFEST Drone Championship was completed on the Near East University campus, hosted by NEU Event Park. The winners of the two-day first leg races received their awards with the participation of President Ersin Tatar.

In the competition, organized by STM, individual pilots competed with FPV (First Person View) system racing drones. In the competition, 32 competitors from all over Turkey competed fiercely in the “Fighting UAV” and “Free Mission UAV” categories with FPV (First Person View) system racing drones. Successful pilots received their awards at the award ceremony held after the competitions where speed, agility and technology came together.

The award ceremony held at NEU Event Park was attended by President Ersin Tatar, Turkish Technology Team Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, Near East Bank Board of Directors Chairman Enver Haskasap and Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Near East University Technology Transfer Office Chairman Prof. Dr. Murat Özgören and many students. The opening speeches of the ceremony were made by Turkish Technology Team Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır and President Ersin Tatar.

Pilots who flew to the top received their awards!
Successful pilots received their awards with great enthusiasm at the award ceremony held after the competition. In the competition; Hüseyin Ablak became first, Ahmet Furkan Yavuz became second, and Emirhan Aydın İzci ranked third. The competitors received their awards from President Ersin Tatar, Turkey Technology Team Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, Near East Bank Board of Directors Chairman Enver Haskasap, and Near East University President Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ. In addition, medals symbolizing their success were presented to all competitors.

Ersin Tatar: “The world’s largest aviation, space, and technology festival is being held in an independent Turkish State in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Blue Homeland.”
Expressing his pleasure at seeing the participants who came to the country on the occasion of TEKNOFEST TRNC, President Ersin Tatar stated that the festival officially started with the Drone Competition after 6 months of preparations led by T3 Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar. Reminding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also attend the festival on May 3, President Tatar said, “The world’s largest aviation, space and technology festival is being held in an independent Turkish State in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Blue Homeland.”

Touching on the importance of the participation of successful companies in Turkey’s national defense industry, President Tatar said, “The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an expression of the independence, freedom and liberty of the Turkish Cypriots, who are an inseparable and inseparable part of the great Turkish nation. It is very important and precious that the festival is held in our country.” In addition, President Ersin Tatar stated that the hosting of the 1st Stage of the TEKNOFEST Drone Championship by the Near East University, which pioneers science, technology and innovation, made a significant contribution to the prestige of the TRNC in the international arena, and expressed that the innovative vision of the Near East University played an inspiring role for the youth of the country.

Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır: “Our youth’s interest in science, technology and innovation will increase even more with this festival, .”
Stating that TEKNOFEST is an important opportunity for the two countries to strengthen their ties and expand science and technology activities in the TRNC, Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, said, “We had planted the first seeds in this field with the Science Nicosia event, now, thanks to TEKNOFEST, we are very happy to see these seeds sprout and bear fruit. Our youth’s interest in science, technology and innovation will increase even more with this festival. I hope that our festival will be beneficial to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkey and all the Turkish States.”